Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – In the Bible, the book of Nehemiah has taught me a great deal about leadership. Here I want to share seven essential qualities a Christian leader today needs in order to build their own leadership.
Nehemiah is a wonderful lesson in leadership. From cupbearer to the king, he became the man who led the people to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls in just 52 days. This article shares the qualities of a leader we can learn from him, each shown through Nehemiah’s concrete decisions. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
7 Qualities of a Leader From Nehemiah
Nehemiah is a leadership example I have much to learn from. Once I sat down to meditate on Nehemiah and reflect on what this Jewish leader did to rebuild Jerusalem. As I read, I found him a living treasury of Christian leadership qualities. I believe every leader, or anyone who wants to lead, should read the first six chapters of Nehemiah every year.
1. Passion and dedication
Passion includes vision, enthusiasm, drive and decisiveness, along with dreams and creative ideas. Passionate leaders easily grasp the big picture without getting bogged down in every detail. Nehemiah even lost sleep over accomplishing God’s purpose. His zeal was beyond words.
2. The ability to motivate others
Connecting with others is a vital part of leadership. It includes putting ideas, concerns and dreams into words; communicating goals simply and concisely; and showing competence wisely and energetically. People often give their best when leaders encourage and motivate them, help them see their own worth and apply it in the right place at the right time. Nehemiah was strong in all of this.
3. Unwavering faith in God
Nehemiah’s journal is full of prayers: some silent, some brief, some very specific. He constantly reminded people of God’s presence and providence. A Christian leader knows how to encourage others to turn to the Source of strength, the God of the impossible and the generous Provider. Their faith in God never wavers and spreads to those around them. They may sometimes doubt their own abilities, but they must always be sure of God’s promises to His people through His work on earth.
4. Resilience and perseverance through hardship
Nehemiah endured sarcasm, suspicion, rumors, ridicule, threats, anonymous warnings and false accusations. None of it shook him. No leader can survive without perseverance and the ability to rise above criticism. It is crucial to hold firmly to your purpose so you don’t become irritable, bitter or distracted. We often get angry in the moment and feel better for it, but that irritation can slowly turn into resentment without our noticing.
5. Realism
Having dreams and creative ideas doesn’t make a leader a dreamer; leaders must see the facts and clear evidence. When Nehemiah began his speech, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace” (Nehemiah 2:17), he divided the work concretely: workers kept building, and he stationed guards to protect the wall from attack. Smart, wise and upright. He handled everything with grace yet firmness. A good leader needs to recognize both the negatives and the positives.
6. Hard work and selflessness
All Christian leaders should share at least one trait: diligence. They value a day’s work (diligence is not the same as workaholism). Because of his hard work, Nehemiah was “appointed to be governor in the land of Judah” (Nehemiah 5:14) after the wall was built. He accepted the role humbly, refused special privileges, and was willing to sacrifice for the people’s good. Nehemiah was truly a servant leader.
7. The discipline to finish the job
Good leaders get the job done. They focus on what is essential and ignore the distractions around them. No doubt the stones Nehemiah used were not perfectly shaped, and the finished wall was not flawless. But he finished the wall. Mission accomplished. Done!
And when the work was finished, they celebrated! In Nehemiah’s day, people marched, sang, danced and shouted with joy. They even organized choirs, “For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46), so that the celebration could be heard far away. What a party!
Leaders who follow Nehemiah’s example are still too few. God said through Ezekiel that He searched for someone to “stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land,” but “found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30). Today God is still looking for leaders. Let us be the men and women who stand in the gap for Him. Be the Nehemiah of this generation: a leader who gives glory to God and keeps growing in these leadership qualities.
About the Author
Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. In 1998 he became senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. His Bible-teaching ministry Insight for Living, airing since 1979, reaches people around the world. He has also served Dallas Theological Seminary, helping to equip the next generation for ministry.
Growing the Qualities of a Leader
The qualities of a leader aren’t formed in a day. Nehemiah prayed for months before he acted. Start with a life of prayer and faithfulness in the small tasks you have been given.
Choose the one quality of these seven that you most need to develop, and ask God to help you grow in this season.
You may also like: How Leaders Talk and Does the Church Need to Change?.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Nehemiah’s example. Grow in the leaders of Your church the qualities of prayer, wisdom, courage and a heart for Your people. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Đài Trang
Adapted from: Insight.org
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